Vents section. Some models and early artists' illustrations show the cowl vents with red interiors. This is incorrect - the funnels were painted white inside. They appeared darker from being in shadow and because all the cowl vents except the two on the roof of the reciprocating engine casing, and possibly the one to starboard of the #4 funnel deckhouse, had protective mesh screens over the openings. Modelers who have drilled out their cowls may wish to paint the interior with a grey-tinted white, or even a light grey, to achieve a shadow effect. This also applies if you haven't drilled out your vents, providing you have the skill and patience to paint the flat round surface where the opening would be. Swan-neck vents can be painted with black openings, whose openings appeared darker. Stokehold vents are best improved upon with photoetched grills painted white, with the plastic vent surface behind them painted a light grey.
The concrete vent base is barely visible in the photo at top right. For two closeup photos of the concrete bases, see p. 23 of Tom McCluskie's Anatomy of the Titanic. Finding a color for concrete is only a little less difficult than finding a color for wood, but two recommendations are listed below.
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